Intervening in a debate on an Opposition-sponsored adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, Singh said “there is absolutely no evidence” of involvement of late Rajiv Gandhi or any other high-ranking Congress leader in the violence that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Appealing to the Opposition to put behind this bitterness, Singh said “we should throw away partisan spectacles and work together to find new pathways to ensure that such tragedies never take place”.

Observing that Government “cannot act if the Commission itself is not sure”, the Prime Minister said “however, there is something called perception and sentiments (...)Government respects and bows to these sentiments expressed in the House today. Our Government assures the House that wherever the Commission has named any specific individuals as needing further examination or specific cases needing re-opening and re-examination, the Government will take all possible steps to do so within the ambit of law,” he said, adding “this is a solemn promise and a solemn commitment to this House.” The most important issue is the need to rehabilitate the families of those affected by that “national tragedy”, the Prime Minister said.

“Twenty years after the events, it may be considered late in the day to be saying this. However, if there has been any shortcoming in this regard, it is our solemn assurance that we will make sincere efforts to redress these shortcomings,” he said. “We will try to ensure that widows and children of those who suffered in this tragedy are enabled to lead a life of dignity and self-respect. It will be our honest attempt to wipe out tears from every suffering eye,” he said.

Describing the 1984 incidents as a “national shame, a great human tragedy”, he appealed to political parties not to politicise a human tragedy. The Prime Minister said it was hoped that various Commissions of Inquiry would be able to establish beyond a shadow of doubt as to who were really to be blamed for the violence and the rioting that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. “Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Fingers had been pointed at individuals, but seldom has there been proof beyond a shadow of doubt in the report of the Inquiry Commissions. Consequently, the search for truth has to continue,” he said.

<B>Assassination of Indira Gandhi</B>

Maintaining the Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry was only the latest attempt in this direction, Singh said “as in the case of some of the previous Commissions, doubts still remain and I acknowledge them”. Stating that most government officials and police officials who have been examined by the Commission for their role have retired from the government, he said action against some of them was taken then and subsequntly as well. “Many have since retired and it is not not possible normally to act against them after such a long gap of 20 years. Nevertheless, our government will consult the Law Ministry to bring the guilty to book to the maximum extent possible,” Singh said.

The Prime Minister said “there is absolutely no no evidence that Rajiv Gandhi or any other high ranking Congress (I) leaders had suggested or organised attacks on the Sikhs.” In the case of others, he said, the Commission has said. Accusing the Congress of inciting rioters, he said the entire administrative machinery was also be blamed for the violence in which thousands of Sikhs were killed.

<I>Source: Times of India</I>

RESIGNATION

<B>Jagdish Tytler quits over anti-Sikh riot report</B>

■ Jagdish Tytler, minister for overseas Indian affairs, resigned on Wednesday after protests sparked by an inquiry that said he might have instigated anti-Sikh riots two decades ago which caused nearly 3,000 Sikh deaths. Tytler resigned after protests inside and outside parliament over his role in riots, which broke out after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Tytler, who has rejected the report and denied any wrongdoing, said he had stepped down to help clear his name. “I met the Congress president and submitted my resignation and asked her to forward it to the prime minister,” he told reporters after meeting Sonia Gandhi, leader of the ruling party. “I think the time needed me to do this. No one put pressure on me. The party has backed me.” The report, by a retired judge, was tabled in parliament on Monday. It is the first to name Congress leaders in connection with the riots. It asked the Congress-led coalition government to further investigate the role of the leaders. However, the government said that, since the report did not have conclusive evidence against Tytler, his prosecution could not be justified. Its stand triggered street protests by Sikh groups and prompted demands, including some from left-wing allies of the Congress, for action against Tytler. Tytler resigned hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh to hold the post, tried to calm public anger and promised action after coming under attack from opposition parties and fellow Sikhs. “Our government will consult the law ministry to bring the guilty to book to the maximum possible extent,” Singh told parliament. “This is a solemn promise and a solemn commitment.” The government says 2,733 people were killed in reprisal attacks on Sikhs after Indira Gandhi’s killing. Activists put the number at about 4,000. The assassination was carried out in revenge for Gandhi’s decision to send the army to flush Sikh separatists out of the Golden Temple in northern India, Sikhism’s holiest shrine.